A hot Sunday in July

     Good Morning.  Well the first thing that makes me smile is I see my little spell check icon is back.  Yeah!  

     I told you I'd decided to drive on Friday.  Or maybe I just skipped the debate here altogether.  You didn't miss much.  I drove.  Not usually my first choice. That would be the train.  Point 1, they were busing between my station and one about 20 miles away.

     Normally, if it had been Saturday, I'd just drive there and leave the car overnight.  You cannot do that until after 6 during the week, I think it's six, in the evening.  That is to allow for all the commuters who have stickers to park there.  And I don't disagree.  Not sure if it is a ticket, tow, or both, in any case never during working hours.

     The other reason for this was the horrendous heat of the day.  My cousin is a good 10 city blocks away from the subway, maybe more.  There is nothing like hot, humid city walking.  And I knew we'd be doing some walking anyway.

     The car did very well, I had the air conditioning blowing the entire way.  Had opted for the Brooklyn Bridge.  Great bridge, easy to get to, oh and yes, it's a free crossing.  Knew they were going to hit me bad for an overnight at the parking garage.

     It was a nice visit.  It was a slow day for him, he'd gone out the night before and was going out again Saturday night.  Munched on a couple of bagels he'd bought, along with some edame beans.  So actually kind of quiet.  Did a lot of walking around looking around in the heat of the day.  Was excruciating.  Think he was more nervous about my heart.  I was just enjoying the conversation, sites, and just being able to do what I enjoy again.

     Spent some time on the outdoor deck of his building watching the water and such.  Got some nice pictures.  Went back downstairs to watch the Mets game.  They won.  We were both beat as Hell from the heat earlier.  Actually he went out again to grab some burritos.  I stayed at the apartment.  I figured I'd slow him down and just hung out.  I did have a beer.

     After some breakfast.  Pancakes, juice and such.  I wanted to get out early, did have some plans.  Also I wasn't relishing the traffic on the way back.  Another plus about mass transit.  If you've a bad nights rest it doesn't matter.  You can sleep en route.  That is not advisable when driving.

     Paid my $50 to get my car.  A little over half of that would have been for round trip plus metro card.  The rest would have been night out entertainment had we'd gone out.  So I didn't feel cheated.  I consulted Suri as to where the best place to catch the bridge was.  She told me.  I did well until the decision part.

     I remembered just fine that at the end you either go to the right for the BQE or straight to go into Brooklyn.  Mastered that beautifully.  Even easily hit the signs for the BQE.  Made my left, unfortunately for me I was in the left lane and needed to be in the right for the sudden right turn.

     Didn't make it.  Decided to do a turn around carefully.  Residential area, cops, tinted windows on my car.  Ugh.  Long story short I would up back in Manhattan some where in the named streets.  

     Manhattan is a grid like most places.  But if you look at the bottom western part you'll see named streets.  Oh it is a nightmare.  I just wanted to pull over and consult my phone.  Not an easy thing to do in Manhattan.  The important thing is never to panic.  I knew I had 2 options, would take me very out of my way.  Oh and anyone in NYC will know I had more that 2, so quiet you.

     Pulled over just as a police car was behind me.  Lucky me.  I had my signal on, rolled down my window, they passed by with a look and went on their ways.  In NYC you never ask a cop for directions.

     Finally found my way back to the bridge after some very narrow streets and such.  Back over, shit, left lane again.  Well not this time.  Carefully made the right and when I could made a U turn.  Back on the BQE and homeward bound.